Slag Heap Tourism Hits New Heights in France
Sometimes working in travel writing you end up in the most unusual of places.
This has just been the case one of those experiences for me in the Pas de Calais.
Whilst on a totally different story I found myself hiking up a coal slag heap in the North of France.
Slag Heap on the tourist trail of Lens, Pas de Calais, France.
This was not an experience that is was expecting at all. However, the challenge and the potential excellent view point that it offered was too good to turn down.
“What did you do on your recent trip to France”?
The answer would certainly unlikely to be. “I climbed the highest slag heaps in Europe!”
Can you imagine the looks and responses you would receive?
Well here is your chance to respond……
Slag Heap on the tourist trail of Lens, Pas de Calais, France.
Because that is exactly what I did do!
Surrounding the former mining town of Lens in the Pas de Calais are numerous great mounds of coal waste 146 metres high, the size of small hills, that in fact look more like volcano cones you would see in central America.
Sweating to the top a slag heap challenge.
That cunning Gallic nation has turned them into both an unlikely tourist attraction and also a brilliant wildlife reserve with UNESCO status at Loos-en-Gohelle on the edge of Lens.
Slag heap tour guide Yves Maerten from Lens Tourism
The town and region are actively marketing them to visitors and they do have an attraction worth visiting for sure. Now home to around 200 species of plants, 82 types of birds, some hardy amphibians and reptiles, twelve types of mammals and around 50 species of butterflies.
On any clear day offering outstanding views over the former battlefields of World War I with such famous names as Vimy and Arras.
The iconic Canadian War Memorial on the top of Vimy Ridge.
On the day I climbed them it was 30degrees C, thirsty but rewarding work too!
The black arid soil is punctuated with areas of green growths of birch and other hardier trees and shrubs. Large areas are of glowing yellow poppies that are perfectly complemented with upright spikes of blue Vipers Bugloss flowers.
Vipers Bugloss flowers growing well on the slag heap around Lens, Pas de Calais, France.
These first to colonise plants have done well to get established and are thriving it seems all over the giant humps slowly returning it all to nature.
SLAG HEAP FIT FOR TOURISM
This popular site is also a hot bed for those that want to power up and push their bodies climbing the slopes on cycles or by running either on the circular slightly easier paths or heading directly straight up the summit of the twin cones of the former 11/19 coal mine.
Coal mine 11/19 now closed but the slag heaps are getting loads of tourists.
Sweating runners, Nordic walkers and mountain bikers streamed past my more moderate exertions but the rewarding views made it all worthwhile.
Chasing up and down two runners on the volcano like mounds at Lens.
When it comes to the landscapes themselves well a glance south to the huge white Canadian war memorial at Vimy Ridge and then to the north St Mary’s A.D.S. Cemetery, Haisnes where Rudyard Kipling’s son is buried.
St Mary’s A.D.S. Cemetery, Haisnes Lt John Kipling (18) is buried there after the battle of Loos in 1915.
Even part way to the summit on very clear days then you can easily see into Belgium too!
Not only are the slag heaps themselves an attraction but the local chefs have climbed on board and have produced a local cake in the shape of the cones. They even coloured them black too. I purchased one in the new Louvre Museum café and the tasty soft strawberry mousse filling on a biscuit base was delightful!
Slag Heap cake bought at the Louvre Museum in Lens, Pas de Calais, France.
You have to admire the tourist board in the Pas de Calais for turning every possible asset into a potential tourism site. No way, would I have thought of visiting such an attraction, but so glad I did!
Note: I was hosted during this trip.
